LEAD
Action News Volume 7 No 4, 2000, ISSN 1324-6011Incorporating Lead Aware Times ( ISSN 1440-4966) and Lead Advisory Service News ( ISSN 1440-0561)
The journal of The LEAD (Lead Education and Abatement Design) Group Inc.

Information compiled from the federal Consumer Affairs website.
by Kate Hayter, President, Hunter LEAD Group

WEEDA TANKARD
Copper Plated Souvenir was recalled from 30 June 1988 because "acidic liquids can
cause lead to leach in certain circumstances. One known lead poisoning in Alice
Springs." Sold nationally and supplied by Weeda Tasmania. File closed 20Jan
1993. Success rate on recall - NOT STATED.

PLAYGYM  model PGY0110 was
recalled from 22 Feb 1989 because "Red paint on the
PLAYGYM contains more than 11
times the accepted level of lead." Sold nationally, supplied by Action Trampolines
and Gymnastic Equipment. File closed on 28 November 1989 with 20% recall SUCCESS
RATE.

BLINDS  Spotlight PVC Mini
Venetian were recalled from 10 July 1996 because these blinds may contain unhealthy
levels of lead." Sold nationally, supplied by Spotlight Store Pty. Ltd. [Spotlight
provided an exchange - a leaded blind for a non-leaded blind - even for PVC miniblinds not
purchased from Spotlight. It is curious why this recall only applied to Spotlight when
leaded PVC miniblinds were widely available from a range of homeware, hardware and
department stores.] File closed 29 Jan 1997. Success rate on recall - NOT STATED.

BRITDIS TEAPOT was recalled
nationally from 2 Feb 1999 because it was "produced with lead solder. Does not comply
with Clause 24 of the Food (General) Regulation 1997 with respect to leachable lead."
This product posed a medium risk of lead poisoning. Britdis teapots were sold nationally
and supplied by Zyliss Aust. Pty. Ltd. File closed 24 June 1999. Success rate on recall - NOT
STATED.

[BRITDIS TEAPOT - 7 April 2003 it was claimed by
United Housewares that shortly after the recall there was a change of manufacturer and
lead was no longer used.]

USA Leaded Consumer
Product Recalls
The US CPSC banned lead core wick
candles on 7th April 2003, if you search the US CPSC
website for the phrase "due to lead", the Google current site
search results show 50 consumer products recalled due to lead
poisoning hazards. But the full list of consumer product recalls by the
CPSC due to lead poisoning hazards is most easily viewed at http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/lead/recalls.shtml where
recalls are listed by year as follows: 2 recalls in 2002, 5 recalls in
2003, 4 in 2004, 11 in 2005, 20 in 2006 and 27 recalls to date in 2007.
The Centers for Disease Control
have put all the products recalled in the US for lead hazards since 2004
on one page (approximately 80 different products) and also lists the products
by categories (toys, crafts, clothing, office equipment etc.).
See www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Recalls/default.htm

More
Australian Leaded Consumer Product Recalls

In Australia, lead testing of consumer products is far less
common and it is impractical to search the list of consumer product
recalls at http://www.recalls.gov.au because
the search engine on the site cannot be searched on the basis of the reason
for recall and no standard phrase such as "due to lead" "lead
hazard" "lead paint" or "lead poisoning" is used
in the recall notices and "lead" appears in the common phrases
"may lead to" and "lead to injury" etc.

The Australian recalls that
have come to The LEAD Group's attention since the four listed above (as at
April 2000) are:

5. Conscious Candle Company
Groovy Candle recalled because they may contain lead in the wicks. Date:
20/12/2000. Supplier Name: Target Australia Pty Ltd.
National recall. Product Info: 3-wick Conscious
Candles sold through Target & Target Home Stores from June 1999 to 1
November 2000. The candles are 15cm high, 15cm diameter and are cream or dark
brown in colour. Vertical grooves along the sides are a distinguishing
feature. Return to store for refund.

6. The Lead Soldier Collection:
Men at War 1914-1945, due to high lead content. Date:
08/08/2001. Supplier Name: Gordon and Gotch Pty Ltd.
National recall. Option: return the
soldiers and place an order with your newsagent for an identical replacement
soldier made of Fine Pewter.

8. Pollyresin Frog Figurine with
Candle recalled nationally because the candle sold with frog figurine has an
unacceptable lead content in the wick. Date: 18/09/2003. Supplier
Name: Bonnet Imports Pty Limited. Product Info: Item
5633. Consumer action: Consumers should either replace
the candle, or return the product to the place of purchase for a refund. For
further information contact Bonnet Imports Pty Limited on Phone (02) 9531 8377
or email [email protected]

sold in Australia between January 2005 and
November 2006. Full pictures of recalled items can be viewed at www.rc2aust.com.au.
Return to store for replacement item and free toy vehicle.

UPDATE as at 2nd August 2007.

12. Fisher-Price Licensed Character Toys recalled globally due to being
painted with lead paint. See www.recalls.gov.au
for the list of model names and numbers recalled in Australia. All affected
toys are marked Fisher-Price and have a date code between 109-7LF and 187-7LF
marked on the product. Consumers should immediately take any affected toys
away from children and contact Mattel Pty Ltd on toll-free 1800 674 753
between Monday to Friday 8am until 5pm (Australian EST) or visit www.service.mattel.com
to determine if product is affected and to arrange for the return of
affected toys. Do not return recalled product to retail stores. Consumers will
receive cash refunds to the value of the returned product.

UPDATE as at 14th August 2007

13. A further 400,000 die-cast cars
modelled after the Cars cartoon movie character “Sarge“ that contains
excessive amounts of lead paint have been added to the list of recalls by
Mattel

UPDATE as at 5 September 2007

14. A total of six toys are being voluntarily recalled in Australia, including five pet and furniture playsets sold under the Barbie® brand and one Fisher-Price® toy, due to impermissible levels of
lead. Surface paint on the toys may contain increased levels of lead, which if ingested, may have health ramifications. There have been no reports of injuries involving the affected products in Australia or overseas. The five Mattel® Barbie®-branded toys being recalled in Australia were sold between
November 2006 and August 2007 and contain the following model numbers: K8606 - Barbie® Table & Chairs Kitchen
Playset, Accessory Affected: yellow food on two dinner plates; Brown on miniature dog; and orange on potato chip bowl; Orange on salad bowl. K8607 Barbie® Bathtub & Toilet
Playset, Accessory Affected: Brown paint on miniature
cat. K8608 Barbie® Living Room Playset, Accessory Affected: Brown paint on miniature
cat. K8609 Barbie® Desk & Chair Bedroom Playset, Accessory Items Affected: Brown paint on miniature dog, and
K8613 Barbie® Living Room Playset, Accessory Affected: Yellow flowers on
handbag.
NO Barbie® dolls are included within the recall.Mattel® is also recalling the Fisher-Price® GEOTRAX™ Rail & Road System Freightway Transport™ toy, which contains the following model numbers: B4342 or
H5705. Affected Item: Yellow headlights on train & miniature ladder. The affected toy was manufactured between
July 31, 2006 and September 4, 2006.

Update as at 5 June 2009:

NEWS
from CPSC Mattel, Fisher-Price to Pay $2.3 Million Civil Penalty for
Violating US Federal Lead Paint Ban.

Consumer action: Consumers should
immediately take any affected toys away from children. There are three ways to
contact Mattel to determine if your product is affected: Visit Mattel's
website at www.service.mattel.com
and click through to your country. Email Mattel via - [email protected].
Call Mattel Australia on toll-free 1800 674 753 between Monday to Friday 8am
to 5pm (Aust EST). Do not return recalled product to retail stores. Consumers
will receive a refund to the value of the returned product. Please note,
consumers do not need to have the toy's original packaging or a receipt to
return affected products to Mattel.

Update 23 March 2010

Darrell Lea
Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd- PRA
number: 2010/11522

The following
items were recalled due to trace elements of lead present in the products that
is above the accepted Australian standard. Contamination occurred due to a
third party source. Product recalled in Australia, New Zealand, The U.K. and
U.S.A.

The California
Department of Health (CDPH) found that a single serve of Yoghurt-coated
Raspberry liquorice could contain 24 micrograms of lead, four times the
recommended US daily limit for children.

Success rate on
recall - Not stated

Why so few Australian recalls
and so many in the USA?

Most consumer products imported
into Australia are never tested for lead, so although some of
the products recalled in the United States due to lead poisoning
hazards may not be available in Australia, the list of US leaded
consumer product recalls at www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/lead/recalls.shtml provides
a useful guide to the sorts of products that MAY cause lead poisoning.

The Centers for Disease Control
have put all the products recalled in the US for lead hazards since 2004
on one page (approximately 80 different products) and also lists the products
by categories (toys, crafts, clothing, office equipment etc.).
See www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Recalls/default.htm